"Oh, Johnny…" Rhea's voice cracked in half as soon as she saw him. She dropped the bat, knees buckling under her. "Johnny. Oh God. Johnny."
"Mama!" the boy screamed, reaching for her with small shaking hands.
The woman jerked him tighter, her arm crushing him against her side. The gun pressed harder into his head. The metal dug into his hairline. The child cried louder at the pressure.
The woman's voice iced over. "Quiet. Quiet now."
But the boy only screamed harder, kicking, calling for his mother.
"Mama. Mama. Mama!"
"Stop," Iyisha said, breath trembling, gun raised but barely steady. "Please. Stop tightening it. He cannot breathe." Her voice cracked, but she held herself still. "Just… ease the pressure a little. Please."
The woman's eyes flicked to her, sharp and frantic. "You step one inch closer and I shoot him. Do you understand."
